Stolen Queen (Dynasty of Deception #4)

23. Ava

23

AVA

I 'm lounging on the couch, flipping through a cookbook and daydreaming about what Matteo and I might make for dinner tonight. I want it to be special to go with the sexy lingerie I ordered that arrived today. I know he’s always extra gentle with me, and I want to push him to be himself. I want to make sure he’s as happy sexually as I am. Maybe the skimpy red lace will help with that.

The sun streams through the windows, making me long to feel its warmth on my skin or the cool, crisp fall air. I sigh, setting the book aside. As much as I appreciate the safety and comfort of Matteo's penthouse, I’m going a bit stir-crazy. Maybe I could convince Matteo to take me out sometime. Just for a little while. To a park, perhaps, where we could have a picnic and enjoy the fresh air together. I know it's risky, but surely, we could find a way to do it safely.

The sound of the door opening pulls me from my thoughts. I turn, a smile already forming on my lips as I make my way to the door to greet Matteo. But as soon as I see his face, my smile fades. Something's wrong.

"Matteo. What's the matter?"

"We need to talk."

Those four words never mean anything good. "About what?"

Matteo makes a beeline to the bar and pours a drink. "Your father came to see Elio today. He had a picture of you from when you went to the drugstore.” He swallows the drink in a single gulp.

A cold chill sweeps through my body. "A picture? From the drugstore? I haven’t left again, I swear." Panic rises in my chest. Is Matteo angry? Will he try to lock me up again? I brace myself for his reaction.

“It’s from before.” He pours another couple of fingers of his drink. "He waved it around like some kind of smoking gun."

I watch him carefully, still unsure of his mood. "Are you… are you mad at me?"

Matteo downs his drink before answering. "No. I'm not mad at you. I'm worried."

Relief washes over me, quickly followed by a new wave of fear. If my father has a picture of me from that day, does that mean he's close to finding me?

"Do you think he knows where I am?"

“No. No one does, not even my family. But your father accused me.”

The situation feels more precarious than ever. Overwhelmed by emotion, I close the distance between us and throw my arms around him. Matteo pulls me into a tight embrace, and I melt into his arms, feeling safe even though I shouldn’t.

I study Matteo's face, noticing the lines of tension around his eyes and mouth. It suddenly hits me how difficult this must be for him, keeping such a massive secret from the people he considers family.

“It’s hard for you to lie to Elio and the others. I know how close you all are."

Matteo's jaw clenches, and he nods slowly. "Yeah, it is. The deceit… it's killing me. I've never kept anything from them before. Not like this. This is big. This could lead to a feud the family can’t overcome."

I feel a pang of guilt coil tight in my gut. "I'm sorry. I never meant to come between you and your family."

He turns to me, his blue eyes intense. "Don't apologize. This isn't your fault. I made the choice to bring you here, to keep you safe. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

He pulls an envelope from his coat pocket but hesitates for a moment before handing it to me. "I've had this for a while. I didn't want to give it to you unless you asked, but… given recent events, I think you should have it."

I take the folder from him wondering what could be inside that he's been keeping from me. I open it. My breath catches in my throat as I see a driver's license with my photo, but a different name. Olivia Russo. Birth certificate, social security card, even a passport, all with this new identity. I flip through more papers and find bank statements showing accounts with substantial balances.

"Matteo," I whisper, looking up at him in shock. "What is all this?"

"It's everything you'd need to start a new life."

I stare back at the documents, my mind whirling. This is what I'd asked for, isn't it? The chance to be free, to escape the life my father had planned for me. But now that it's here in my hands, I'm not sure how to feel.

"You've had this all along?"

“A few weeks. I promised you I’d give you your freedom, a new identity. No one will be able to find you."

I trace my fingers over the new name on the driver's license. Olivia Russo. It feels strange, foreign. Is this who I could become? "Why are you giving this to me now?"

He sighs. “I didn’t want to give it to you until you asked me for it.”

"I didn't ask for this because I don't want it. I don't want to leave."

Emotion crosses Matteo’s face. "It might be necessary, Ava. With your father closing in?—"

"No.” I shake my head vehemently. "I can't hear this. I won't."

“Ava, all this has been for your safety. The time has come.”

I step away from him. His words feel like a slap in the face. “You want me to leave.”

“Dammit, Ava… No. I don’t want you to leave, but?—”

“My place is here, with you."

Matteo's expression is a mix of hope and anguish. "Ava, I?—"

My hands grip his, desperation eating me up. "I know it's complicated. I know there are risks. But I want to be with you. The thought of leaving terrifies me more than anything my father could do."

"Except with me, you're not free. Not really.” His hand cups my face. "Not locked away in my penthouse."

It occurs to me that my being here is a danger to him too. "I’m being selfish. My being here puts a target on you too."

He shakes his head. "I don't give a fuck about that."

I want to ask him to go away with me, but I know he won’t leave his family. And it’s not like I haven’t known this day would come. The day I’d have to leave him. It seems so unfair.

“You’re going to be fine, Princess.” His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. I want to say something, but his lips press against mine. His thumb traces over my pulse point on my neck.

I cling to him, and as I do, his hold on me tightens in an unspoken promise of protection and care. He lifts me, carries me to his room. Next to him on his bed, it’s more than a physical need we’re trying to satisfy. It feels like we’re two souls trying to find solace in this dangerous world. The way he touches me, the way he looks at me, it’s like he’s cherishing every last moment we have together.

His breath whispers against my ear. "Ava." His voice is soft, almost reverent. I feel every word as it caresses my body, leaving a trail of tingling sensations. The air around us is thick with desire, and something more. Love. I love this man. I don’t know if he loves me, but I believe he cares for me.

I have no doubt that he’ll send me away, so I have to savor the time I have left. I open myself to him, giving him everything I have, my heart, my soul.

Since that first night I slept with him, sex has been fun, adventurous, exciting. But this, this is different. It’s slow, languid. It’s almost as if he wants this to never end. I know I don’t. I follow his cues, touching, kissing, focusing on the wondrous sensations, the magic of love.

Eventually, he lays over me, his strong body pressing me into the mattress as he slowly enters my body. I arch into him, trying to keep tears from showing as emotions overwhelm me.

“Look at me,” he says.

I open my eyes. His face is right above mine, his blue eyes intense and filled with emotion as he looks down on me. He rocks, moving in and out of me, his gaze never breaking from mine. I wrap my arms and legs around him, moving with him. My body fills with pleasure even as my heart is breaking. I want to hold him like this forever, for this moment to last a lifetime. But our bodies have different ideas, and before long, my orgasm overcomes me. It washes through me like a perfect storm. He’s there with me, his release moving through him. We ride it out together.

When it’s over, we hold each other. I rest my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

“Tell me where you want to go and I’ll make the arrangements,” he says, and I hate that he’s ruined this moment by reminding me that I have to go.

“I’m already free here with you,” I say.

He shakes his head. “Not really.”

“You give me a choice. Isn’t that what freedom is? The ability to choose my own path, no matter how treacherous it might seem?”

He gives me a wan smile. “My brave little Princess.” He kisses me and tucks me close again.

I don’t say anything more because what is there to say? I've chosen my path. I'm choosing Matteo, and in doing so, I'm choosing a life that will be fraught with danger and uncertainty. But it's also a life filled with love, passion, and a sense of being alive that I've never known before.

Now I just have to convince him.